List of next-generation catalogs
Encyclopedia
An Online Public Access Catalog (often abbreviated as OPAC
or simply Library Catalog) is an online database
of materials held by a library
or group of libraries. Users typically search a library catalog
to locate books, periodicals, audio/visual materials or other items under control of a library.
As access to the internet became more accessible to more people library users have grown more and more accustomed to these sites and search engines. They have become increasingly dissatisfied with the search mechanisms of older library catalog systems. This has, in turn, led to vocal criticisms of these systems within the library community itself, and in recent years to the development of newer (often termed 'next-generation') catalogs. However, the large cost associated with these new systems has significantly hindered the widespread use of new systems.
The newest generation of library catalog systems are distinguished from earlier OPACs by their use of more sophisticated search technologies, in particular faceted search, and features aimed at greater user interaction and participation with the system, including tagging, reviewing, and RSS
feeds.
However, the usefulness of these catalogs is limited by inconsistent metadata standards that vary from publisher to publisher. There is also the concern that only newly digitized material can be found while older material, published on different platforms that are no longer supported is effectively lost. Libraries are then faced with the expensive and time consuming task of reapplying new metadata tags to ensure these older records can become discoverable. At present there is no single standard for metadata records.
See below for a list of some next generation library catalog systems.
OPAC
An Online Public Access Catalog is an online database of materials held by a library or group of libraries...
or simply Library Catalog) is an online database
Online database
An online database is a database accessible from a network, including from the Internet.It differs from a local database, held in an individual computer or its attached storage, such as a CD....
of materials held by a library
Library
In a traditional sense, a library is a large collection of books, and can refer to the place in which the collection is housed. Today, the term can refer to any collection, including digital sources, resources, and services...
or group of libraries. Users typically search a library catalog
Library catalog
A library catalog is a register of all bibliographic items found in a library or group of libraries, such as a network of libraries at several locations...
to locate books, periodicals, audio/visual materials or other items under control of a library.
As access to the internet became more accessible to more people library users have grown more and more accustomed to these sites and search engines. They have become increasingly dissatisfied with the search mechanisms of older library catalog systems. This has, in turn, led to vocal criticisms of these systems within the library community itself, and in recent years to the development of newer (often termed 'next-generation') catalogs. However, the large cost associated with these new systems has significantly hindered the widespread use of new systems.
The newest generation of library catalog systems are distinguished from earlier OPACs by their use of more sophisticated search technologies, in particular faceted search, and features aimed at greater user interaction and participation with the system, including tagging, reviewing, and RSS
RSS
-Mathematics:* Root-sum-square, the square root of the sum of the squares of the elements of a data set* Residual sum of squares in statistics-Technology:* RSS , "Really Simple Syndication" or "Rich Site Summary", a family of web feed formats...
feeds.
However, the usefulness of these catalogs is limited by inconsistent metadata standards that vary from publisher to publisher. There is also the concern that only newly digitized material can be found while older material, published on different platforms that are no longer supported is effectively lost. Libraries are then faced with the expensive and time consuming task of reapplying new metadata tags to ensure these older records can become discoverable. At present there is no single standard for metadata records.
See below for a list of some next generation library catalog systems.
Proprietary
- Retrievo (KEEP SOLUTIONS)
- Aquabrowser
- Axiell Arena
- BiblioCommons
- Ebsco Discovery Service
- Encore
- Prism 3 (Capita)
- Primo (ExLibris)
- DIMDATA ILS
- WorldcatWorldCatWorldCat is a union catalog which itemizes the collections of 72,000 libraries in 170 countries and territories which participate in the Online Computer Library Center global cooperative...
Local (OCLCOCLCOCLC Online Computer Library Center, Inc. is "a nonprofit, membership, computer library service and research organization dedicated to the public purposes of furthering access to the world’s information and reducing information costs"...
) - LS2 PAC and LS2 Kids from The Library Corporation (TLC)The Library Corporation (TLC)The Library Corporation creates and distributes automation and cataloging software to more than 700 public, school, academic, and special library systems...
- VTLS Inc.
Open source
- EvergreenEvergreen (software)Evergreen is an open source Integrated Library System , initially developed by the for Public Information Network for Electronic Services , a statewide resource-sharing consortium with over 270 member libraries....
. - KohaKoha (software)Koha is an open source Integrated Library System , used world-wide by public, school and special libraries. The name koha comes from a Māori term for a gift or donation .- Features :...
. - PhpMyBibliPhpMyBibliPMB is a fully featured open source integrated library system. The project was initiated by François Lemarchand in October 2002, Director of the Public Library of Agneaux; it is now maintained by PMB Services .- Features :...
. - OmekaOmekaOmeka is a free, open source web publishing system for online digital archives, and uses an unqualified Dublin Core metadata standard. Completely web-based, it allows users to publish cultural heritage objects, extend its functionality with themes and plugins, and curate online exhibits with...
. - Steve.museumSteve.museumThe steve.museum project is a collaborative effort to improve public access to and engagement with US art museum collections. To do so, it is exploring the possibilities of user-generated descriptions of works of art, also known as folksonomy...
. - VuFindVuFindVuFind is an open source library search engine that allows users to search and browse beyond the resources of a traditional OPAC. Developed by Villanova University, version 1.0 was released in July 2010 after two years in beta....
. - SOPACSOPACSOPAC has the following meanings:*The Southern Pacific Railroad *The South Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission*Social OnLine Public Access Catalog*South Orange Performing Arts Center*Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre...
social online public access catalog . - Scriblio.
- Blacklight OPAC.
- OpenBiblioOpenBiblio-History:Created in 2002 under General Public Licence . It is written in PHP containing OPAC, circulation, cataloging, and staff administration functionality....
. - jOPAC.
- Avanti MicroLCS.
- OpenSiteSearch.
- RapiRåpiRåpi is a 926 meters high mountain in Norrbotten County, northern Sweden, near Kiruna....